General

Spotlight on... Steph Houghton

3 Joining my first club, Sunderland...

“During the school holidays, I always loved going to Sunderland Soccer Schools over two days.

"Most of my friends went and loved every minute, playing games and learning new skills.

"Then, one time I remember being voted Player of the Camp and in turn, I was scouted for the Sunderland Centre of Excellence.

"That was a dream come true to play for a club that I'd supported since I started kicking a football.”

4 Positional switch...

"When I first joined up with England, we always played 4-4-2 and I was always a striker.

"We changed formation to 4-3-3 and Mo Marley saw me as a right-sided striker of the three. Then by chance, we had a few players injured and she asked me to play at right-back, although I'd never played there in my life!

"I played quite well and she saw a little bit of something in me that no-one else had seen. From then on, I played at right-back, centre-back, left-back and centre midfield!

"I made my England debut as a right-back and for me, it was the best decision any coach has ever made for me - to move my position - because I would never have been able to play at the level I am playing at as a striker."

Highlights

MCWFC v Notts. County: Match highlights

5 Making my senior England debut...

“This is definitely one of the highlights of my career. I was 17 and all I'd ever wanted to do was to play for England!

"I was in a squad with people like Kelly Smith, Faye White and Rachel Yankey, learning new things every day – I was literally living the dream!

"To have made my debut in front of my family was amazing and I got a taste of playing at the highest level, which I loved and wanted more of.”

6 Being handed the England captain's armband...

“Playing for England is the ultimate honour and I love it but to have been handed the armband was firstly a huge surprise – I was overwhelmed but so delighted.

"I don’t think I took the conversation in at all but I was straight on the phone to my family because it meant as much to the people that have supported me through my career to know that I would be captain of my country!

"It drives me on to be the best leader I can be, playing my football and enjoying it as much as I can.”

Women's Team

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2019, Manchester City Football Club is unveiling a behind-the-scenes photo exhibition to honour their inspirational women’s team, who are fresh off the back of a third Continental Cup win.

The exhibition, which will be on display in St. Ann’s Square in Manchester city centre from Friday 8 March to Saturday 9 March, showcases the hard work, passion, dedication and personality of the club’s elite female athletes.